Around Smithsburg and Robinwood

Little League clinics planned

Local umpires Denny Hockensmith and Dave Grams will once again be teaching the rules of Little League baseball.

The sessions will be held at The Church of Christ on Leitersburg Pike on Tuesdays in February, starting Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

As in the past, they will be covering the basics, as well as changes to the rule book, including new pitch count rules. Also, before you purchase a new bat for your child, you need to know the Bat Performance Factor (BPF) that must be stamped on all bats.

The sessions are free.

All district managers are urged to attend. Also, umpires are needed at all levels. For more information, call Denny at 301-416-2841 or Dave at 301-791-1687.

TOPS 462

Also, a new contest will begin and the final touches will be made for the chapter's open house on Jan. 29.

TOPS is a nonprofit weight-loss support group. Chapter 462 meets Thursdays at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Weigh-in starts at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 6 p.m.

For more information, call Ola at 301-824-7650 or John at 717-749-3023, or go to www.tops.org.

Telescope clinic to be held at library

The Smithsburg branch of Washington County Free Library will host the Tristate Astronomers for a telescope clinic Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Smithsburg Library Community Room.

Bring in your telescope with all pertinent parts, manuals, stands, etc., and receive help setting up and/or troubleshooting your equipment. For more information, call 301-824-7722.

Smithsburg Middle

The annual Steam and Craft Show raised $949 for the Smithsburg Middle School PTSA. The group would like to thank the community for its support. The group would also like to thank the following volunteers: Shawyn Bryce, Angela and Keith Taber, Sue and Tom Smith, Shannon Thorhauer, Julie Hood, Tracy K-Simane, Jennifer Martirano, Jeanne Conion, Kathleen Hott, Darlene Ebersole, Mary Reid, Laurie Buckley, Donna Moore, Donna Burk, Vanessa Mackley, Kalie Gigante and Michael Kuhaneck, principal.

HCC alumni plans trip to flower show

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association is sponsoring a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on Wednesday, March 4. The bus leaves HCC at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. The trip costs $65 for HJC/HCC Alumni Association members and $70 per person for others. The price includes round-trip bus transportation, show admission tickets, bus snack bags, drinks and door prizes. The trip is open to the public. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Lisa Stewart, alumni coordinator, at 301-790-2800, ext. 346.

Noteworthy

To submit news to this column, call 301-331-5683, fax 301-582-3047 or e-mail DAMowennews@aol.com.